It is Commendable that San Francisco AME Church Members Rejected Sacrilegious Reverend John Hunter and the Duty of Holding Accountable Black America's Disgraceful and Inept Elected Leaders is Long Overdue Too!

For decades and even today, no good sacreligious reverends deliver the votes of black church congregations to the Democratic Party for gratuities, favors, kickbacks, etc., from the Democratic Party. In exchange for being used by treasonous reverends and the Democratic Party, typically a gullible and loyal to the Democratic Party beyond reason black electorate receive nothing but empty promises, further oppression, and “Taxation without competent Representation” from President Barack Obama, multiple members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and other elected officials affiliated with the Democratic Party who have contempt for the Constitution, the oath of office, and the rule of law.

Oath of Office: "I, (President, Supreme Court Justice, Congressperson, Assemblyman, Mayor, City Councilperson, Judge,etc. ), during such times as I hold the office, I, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States (the Constitution of the State of California, Maryland, Illinois, etc., etc.), against all enemies foreign (terrorist enemies of the U.S., illegal immigrants, un-American or un-Constitutional anything and everything, etc.) and domestic (treasonous individuals or organizations, any Police Chief who turns a blind eye to the actions of rogue police officers, unethical or criminal elected officials or public servants, illegal aliens or his or her advocates, un-American anything and everything), and that I will bear true faith and allegiance, to the Constitution of the United States , (State Constitution), and that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter."

SAN FRANCISCO — In an unprecedented move, officials of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest black pulpit in the city, have rejected the troubled Los Angeles pastor assigned to lead its flock.

The Rev. John J. Hunter was recently transferred from First AME, one of the nation's most prominent black churches, after an eight-year tenure marred by a sexual harassment lawsuit, a federal tax investigation and the questionable use of church credit cards.

Hunter was slated to make his pastoral debut at Bethel AME this month, but church officials drafted an emergency resolution barring him from taking control. They said the assignment could "impair the legacy, reputation, relationships and goodwill" of the church in the community.

When Hunter, cloaked in his white pastor robe and carrying his Bible, showed up at the church Nov. 4 ready to preach, church officials said, they confronted him in the foyer and demanded that he produce the signed declaration from Bishop T. Larry Kirkland stating his new assignment.

Hunter did not have a copy of the declaration and church officials blocked him from taking the pulpit.

The rejection — unheard of in the AME denomination — pits the small, 650-member congregation against the executive orders of Kirkland and has many churchgoers questioning the ramifications of their protest.

Neither Hunter nor Kirkland could be reached Sunday for comment.

Church officials fear that Hunter's blemished reputation would upend a multimillion-dollar business deal in the works. Some say the deal, which officials declined to detail, would unravel if lenders learned of Hunter's questionable financial transactions.

"That's how much weight his reputation carries," said one senior church official who asked not to be identified for fear of punishment if Hunter were to be seated as pastor.

In 2008, Hunter acknowledged using First AME's credit cards for $122,000 in personal expenditures on items including suits, jewelry, vacations and auto supplies. A year later, the Internal Revenue Service said he owed more than $300,000 in back taxes. Hunter has said he repaid both debts.

Additionally, members worry that Bethel AME might lose the good reputation it earned under the leadership of its former pastor, the Rev. J. Edgar Boyd, who served the church for more than 20 years.

Boyd was promoted to take the helm of First AME, a church that boasts a membership of 19,000. There, he was welcomed with open arms.

For years, critics of Hunter complained that he was inaccessible, overspent on personal security and refused to live in the South L.A. community where he preached. They said the church's membership, tithing and its activist profile declined during Hunter's tenure.

Hunter was appointed in 2004 to lead First AME, which had been led by the Rev. Cecil L. "Chip" Murray, a legendary pastor who propelled the church into a civic, social and political powerhouse. It became a regular stop for Democratic political candidates over the years, including Bill Clinton, Al Gore and President Obama.

After Hunter's transfer to Bethel AME was announced Oct. 28, members worried about his past.

It took Hunter days to formally introduce himself to church officials, further exacerbating the congregation's concerns about the pastor.

By the time Hunter landed in San Francisco on Nov. 3, his fate with the church was sealed. A driver picked up Hunter and his young daughter, Jaden, at the airport. They were dropped off downtown, where more than a dozen church officials greeted them. Hunter was handed a copy of the resolution, stating that members had rejected his appointment and demanded that Kirkland create a conciliation committee to "review the charges, issues and concerns" raised, church officials said.

"You could've emailed or faxed this to me," a stunned Hunter responded, according to church officials. Hunter said he would not preach where he was not wanted. The next morning, church members said they stood on the steps of Bethel AME on Laguna Avenue an hour before the early morning service to block Hunter from entering. Hunter was not present when the service began at 8 a.m.

Thirty minutes later, Hunter and a bodyguard bypassed the lone guard who monitors the front entrance, church members said. Officials said that when they blocked Hunter from the pulpit, his demeanor shifted.

"He was loud and boisterous," said one member who declined to be identified because the issues surrounding Hunter's assignment had not been resolved. "Not the temperament of a pastor."

Congregants in the church held hands and prayed.

Hunter left and has had little contact since then with church members. When Kirkland learned about the confrontation, he flew to San Francisco to admonish the congregation for making judgments about Hunter.

"This could be looked at as an embarrassment," he told members.

But the congregation remains firm in its decision. On Sunday, members said they were ready to walk out if Hunter showed up. The presiding elder, the Rev. W. Bartalette Finney Sr., delivered the sermon for the roughly 100 people who turned out for two morning services. He urged members to focus on their spiritual relationship with God and not the problems of the church.

"Bethel, you have lost your first love," he said in a deep, throaty baritone. "You have lost your pastor. But you didn't lose Jesus."

"The Harvard Graduate Barack Obama is not smart, not a good administrator, leader, etc., and the BO Administration is not his friend either.

An effective and competent administrator, executive, leader, etc., would definitely do some research to at least check the integrity, moral values, etc., etc., of the individuals he is shaking hands with, meeting with, being photographed with, etc., etc.

Slim chance exists, that any truly ethical, moral, and competent individual would shake hands with, bargain with, be an associate or friend, say a prayer with, meet or conduct business with, etc., etc., any unethical, immoral, incompetent, sleazy, and/or individual (s) who are a known thief.

Barack Obama's advisers are not providing this information either, and it is certain that with all the so called university educated and experienced government officials a President, a Congressperson, a U.S. Senator has at his or her disposal, there is no excuse for this. Furthermore, BO has the power and authority to hire and fire anyone in his administration who is not protecting the integrity of the Presidency." by TheTruth53

....and it is certain that many other ethical, moral, and competent individuals would agree, so much so, that you won't find TheTruth53 or other like-minded individuals shaking hands with, bargaining with, being an associate or friend, saying a prayer with, meeting or conducting business with, and/or in a photo with no good Reverend John Hunter or other proven and known to be disgraceful individuals.

Thus far the only elected official foolish enough to maintain an alliance with no good deceitful and thief for a Reverend John Hunter is President Barack Obama, unethical no good Attorney Rickey Ivie or other deceitful individuals,

.....being sued by FAME church members, Attorney Robert Silverman,.....for stealing, much of the money stolen by the "Sleazy and the Greedy" being FAME Church Tithes or Federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) taxpayer's money.

.......by and large other elected officials from every political party affiliation cut all ties with Reverend John Hunter.

Paragraph from the above LA Times article: "As the pastor of the oldest black church in Los Angeles, the Rev. John J. Hunter earned a generous salary, lived in a $2-million home and drove a Mercedes-Benz paid for by the church. His wife earned $147,000 a year running nonprofit organizations connected to the 19,000-member congregation. But over the last few years, the hilltop church in the West Adams district has fallen into debt. The First African Methodist Episcopal Church owes nearly $500,000 to creditors. Some vendors say they have not been paid in more than a year."

It can't be good when any elected official, especially the President of the United States, is in a photo, and being blessed by one of many disgraceful and unethical, jackleg preachers in the black community, namely no good Reverend John Hunter."

...and voting should be based on how well an elected official upholds the "Oath of Office", the Constitution and not party affiliation.

This is where a dysfunctional black electorate are misguided, in that voting allegiance should not be entirely associated with political Party affiliation or influenced by any Reverend to deliver votes to any political party.

Of all the ethnic groups the black electorate is the only solid segment of voters that consistently votes better than 90% in favor of the Democratic Party, or Democratic candidates.

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